Hockey teams work hard all season to earn postseason home ice because that can be such an advantage in the playoffs. At least that’s supposed to be the idea.

This has become the spring of home-ice disadvantage. The road teams had a curiously impressive 26-23 record in the postseason’s first round.

Exhibit A was the Sharks-Los Angeles Kings series. The road team won five of the six games, with the Sharks taking all three played at Staples Center.

Home not-so-sweet home has become the talk of the NHL.

“It used to be that home ice was money in the bank,” Sharks center Scott Nichol said. “Now, it doesn’t seem like it means anything anymore. It’s hard to explain.”

And it may neutralize any perceived edge the Sharks hold against Detroit in the upcoming series. But the Sharks, of course, are still happy to have it.

“You always want home ice, and we prefer to play in front of our fans,” Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. “But obviously, the first round shows that it doesn’t guarantee a win. Now that we’re playing three different time zones away in this series, it’s nice to be here for that extra day.”

Home ice was not that big an advantage last season, either, as visiting teams went 43-46 throughout the playoffs. But two years ago, the road teams struggled with a 35-52 record — which is more in line with what you would expect.

The Red Wings lineup for Game 1 is expected to have only one different face in it from the Detroit team the Sharks met in the playoffs a year ago.

Gone is defenseman Andres Lilja, replaced by another veteran, Ruslan Salei. The Red Wings did add Mike Modano to their roster, but he has been a healthy scratch in all but one game of the postseason.

The Sharks, on the other hand, have made major alterations. Goalies Antti Niemi and Antero Niittymaki have replaced Evgeni Nabokov and Thomas Greiss. Defenseman Rob Blake has retired, with Ian White in his place. Forwards Manny Malhotra and Jed Ortmeyer are gone, with Kyle Wellwood and Jamal Mayers new to the lineup.

Ben Eager, another San Jose addition since last year, has been scratched the last two games.

Sharks defenseman Kent Huskins is fully recovered from the upper body injury he suffered Feb. 19, but not sure when he may next find himself in the lineup.

“It’s just how things have worked out,” he said. “You’ve got to be a good teammate and support the guys that are in the lineup.”

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